LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - Election Day is almost two weeks away. But Arkansans began their trip to the polls Monday as early voting kicked off state-wide.

As of 5 p.m. Monday, the Secretary of State's Office reported 26,763 voters on the first day of early voting. In Pulaski County, the tally came in at 5,660 votes cast as of 6 p.m. Monday.  

We had a chance to talk to a few voters and everyone of them said that they make early voting a part of their election routine.

Early voting staff kept busy Monday at the Pulaski County Election Commission. They were guiding voters to the ballot booths, getting a head start on the November 6th election.

"I early-vote every single time," Jordan Crews said.

Crews says it's all about convenience and getting through this process faster.

"There are usually one-to-two people in front of me in line if at all, today there wasn't any," Crews said.

Donnie Coley said she made it through the polls in about five minutes.

"I'm excited to go ahead and get it done," Coley said.

And on her trip Monday, she brought her two grand-kids for the first time.

"I think it's really important that they see Grandma doing it, so they're going to do it too in the future," Coley said.

"Did you like it? THV's Max Seigle asks her grandson Michael Coleman.

"Yeah!' Coleman said.

It's a thumbs-up from Michael, who had a sticker to mark the occasion. Voter Lonnie Phillips was also wearing a sticker after hitting the polls at the Sue Conway Williams Library in Little Rock.

"There's a lot at stake and I feel that this is the most important election that we've had for presidents since we started electing presidents of the United States," Phillips said.

It was an important place to be for Phillips Monday, who said he got through in about ten to 15 minutes.  

"The only drawback that I saw was that it took people a little time to get through the ballot because it was a lot longer than a normal ballot is," Phillips said.    

There are lots of decisions to make, and the folks out Monday are checking them off a little early.  

The Secretary of State's Office reports a growing trend with early voters in Arkansas. Spokesman Alex Reed says, back in 2008, these voters made up around 30 percent of the state's overall voting. In Pulaski County, election commission officials say it was almost half, again four years ago.

Extra Resrouces:

Pulaski County Early Voting Locations

View Sample Ballot

(To view sample ballot: Click the link above, fill out form for 'Registrant Search', then click on the link next to 'Sample Ballots.')

Arkansas Early Voting Locations

(To view locations: Click on the link above and fill out for for 'Registrant Search' to view location.)